Greens, vegetables and fruit can easily be transformed from everyday produce to beauty products when used skilfully. No chemicals and only a minimum of investment
Basil
Helps red and tired eyes after a long time working at the computer.
Directions: as eye compresses or baths. Infusion should be made only from fresh leaves. Infuse 1 tbsp. basil leaves in 1 cup boiling water, 10 min, strain. Leave on for about 10 minutes.
Bananas
Helps with burns. Bleaches yellowed tobacco fingers. Restores skin balance.
Usage: rubbed blackened skin with the inner side of a banana peel. To soothe irritation from burns, place the underside of the peel over the burn area.
For the mask, crush the banana peel and spread on the face. Leave it for 15 minutes and lightly massage it in circular motions. Rinse off.
Grapes
An antioxidant that is used in anti-ageing cosmetics, it softens, exfoliates, regenerates, nourishes the skin and protects it from excessive sun exposure.
Directions: try a grape diet, use an oil, apply a mask.
To prepare a smooth skin mask, mash 5-7 light grapes with 1 tbsp. honey and apply to the skin for 20 minutes. Rinse off, gently blot and apply usual cream.
Lemons
Soothes, moisturizes, purifies, tones the skin, helps against pigmentation disorders and wrinkles.
Directions: To prepare a smoothing solution for wrinkles, 2 slices of lemon (4 if very oily skin and 1 if dry) should be put in a ceramic or wooden bowl. Pour 100-150 ml of warmed cream (20% or more). Cover and leave to soak for 3 hours. Wipe your face with the solution and massage the face in circular motions. Completely dry the applied solution, wipe off the residue with a cosmetic mitt moistened with water and 1-2 drops of olive oil. Use in the morning and evening for 2-3 weeks.
Honey
Softens skin and smoothes wrinkles, nourishes hair
Directions: To prepare a nourishing winter hair mask, mix 125 ml of honey and 60 ml of olive oil. Apply a small amount to the hair, put on a shower cap and wrap the head in a heated towel. Leave to set for 30 minutes. Shampoo delicately and rinse with cool water.
Carrot
Improves complexion
Directions: for a colour-enhancing mask, peel and grate carrots (they are richer in beta carotene). Add a few drops of almond oil or olive oil, apply to the face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off.
Tomatoes
Good anti-acne treatment for oily skin, relieves inflammation after sunburn and prevents peeling.
Directions: 2 peel and peel pulp tomatoes, put in a blender and mix with 50 ml. milk until smooth. Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off.
Olive oil
Curative for dry skin, helps with brittle nails
For softening elbow skin, cut lemon in half and fork pulp and add 1 tsp. lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the elbows and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse off.
Parsley
Removes impurities from the skin.
Directions: steep 2 tbsp of chopped parsley leaves in 500ml of water, infuse for 24h and use as a lotion.
Dill
Used in diets as a means to lose weight and maintain youthfulness
Directions: pour 1 tsp. dill seeds with 1 cup boiling water, infuse for 10 minutes, strain and drink warm after meals.
Since olive oil is the oil many people use most often, here are 6 more beauty secrets:
Hair mask. The hair of Spanish beauties is amazing. You can get closer to your ideal hair by applying an olive oil mask to it once a week. Mix olive oil with egg yolks and beer, apply it to your hair, put on a shower cap and walk around the flat like this for 40 minutes. Wash your hair afterwards with mild shampoo.
Hand treatment. Warm some oil in a small bowl and immerse your hands in it. Let it cool until the oil has cooled. Let the oil drain off, put on cotton gloves and walk around like that for a couple of hours. Or better still, go straight to bed. The rest of the oil can be used for your feet in the same way.
Gum massage. For healthy gums and strong teeth, massage gums with oil once a day for five to seven minutes.
Lip balm. Rub chapped or cracked lips with olive oil 4-5 times a day.
Breast wraps. Ladies who care about the beauty of the breasts can do oil wraps once a week, mixing warm olive oil with cottage cheese or beaten eggs and leaving the mixture to nourish the skin for 30-60 minutes.
Eye compress. If your eyes are tired after a long time working at the computer or handling paperwork – take a cotton pad and soak them in water.
soak a cotton pad in warm oil, place it on your eyes and lie still for 15 min. The same swab can also be used to remove make-up.